Patterns of Intrahepatic Gene Expression in Neonatal Cholestasis / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To identify genes specifically expressed in biliary atresia, we compared the patterns of gene expression between biliary atresia and neonatal hepatitis syndrome using cDNA microarray analysis. METHODS: Liver tissues were taken from livers of 11 patients (7 patients with biliary atresia and four with neonatal hepatitis) with neonatal cholestasis by needle biopsy. Normal control could be obtained from donor liver tissue during living-related liver transplantation. Total RNA was extracted from each samples and reversely transcribed to make cDNA. Then fluorescent cDNA were pooled and hybridized to the clones on the microarray. Fluorescence intensities at the immobilized targets were measured. Utilizing cDNA arrays of 4.7 K human genes, gene expression profiles were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 4,700 microarray clones, 17 cDNA clones were significantly over-expressed in all 11 patients with neonatal cholestasis, while 20 clones were significantly decreased. Genome-wide expression analysis was carried out in livers obtained at the time of diagnosis. We could identify 49 genes, in which there showed differential expression between biliary atresia and neonatal hepatitis syndrome. CONCLUSION: This study shows the pattern of differentially expressed genes in biliary atresia and neonatal hepatitis syndrome. We believe that this study can contribute to the understanding of pathogenesis of neonatal cholestasis.